Spout closure



A. J. COLLINS SPOUT CLOSURE Sept. 11, 1951 Filed Oct. 14, 1948 mi m1 "4 1w v p; i

llllllll l Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOUT CLOSURE Arthur J. Collins, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 54,553

This invention relates to a closure for a spout or discharge member of the type commonly used in connection with cans or containers. It has for one object to provide a spout which is initially integrally closed.

It has for another object to provide a closure which will have sufiicient structural strength to prevent breakage or damaging during shipping.

It has for another object to provide a closure which can be opened by the breaking of a portion of the spout or closure.

Another object is to provide, in connection with a spout of the type suggested, a removable closure which, after the spout has once been opened, will provide effective means for closing the closure and for holding it closed after repeated use.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the closure as initially made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the spout after it has been opened and showing the plug removed;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on an enlarged scale at line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the reinforcing plug member, shown on an enlarged scale, removed from the spout and cap.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the drawing.

The spout is illustrated as attached to a screw cap I. The spout may conveniently be made of aluminum but may be made of other material.

11 Claims. (Cl. 220-27) As shown, the spout 2 is enlarged at 3 to engage the cap I. The spout is reduced in thickness at 4 to permit breaking. It is enlarged at 6 and the member 6 may be conveniently roughened on its exterior as shown in Figures 1 and 3 particularly. It may also be rounded as at I on its upper surface.

The cap I is perforated and the edges 8 of the perforation are engaged from above by the portion 9 of the spout 2, 3. The edges 8 of the cap I are engaged from below by a portion ill of the spout. This portion is preferably swedged or otherwise forced over the under surface of the edges 8 of the cap perforation.

The spout is provided with a bore H which extends from end to end through it. A plug or reinforcing member 12 fits with a relatively easy fit within the major portion of the bore H. Ad-

2 jacent its upper end, the plug I2 is provided with a roughened enlargement l3 which provides at its upper edge or end, a shoulder 20. The head 6 of the spout fits closely about the portion l3 and the upper end [4 of the plug [2. By reason of the shape of the plug and particularly by reason of the roughened portion I3 and the shoulders which it provides, the head 6 and the plug I2 are held permanently together. A shoulder I6 is formed within the head 6 and fits against the shoulder l5 thus when the cap 6 and plug 12 are removed from the spout as shown at Figure 3, they are not separated or torn apart. It has been stated above that the plug fits with a relatively loose sliding fit in the major part of the bore II. There is a slight clearance I! which is indicated in the drawing between it and the plug l2. For purposes of illustration, this clearance which appears in Figure 4 is exaggerated.

Adjacent the lower end of the bore ll of the spout 2, a tighter fit is provided. For example, at the portion l8, this tighter fit is provided by inwardly bent portions 19 of the spout 2. These parts are exaggerated for clearness of illustration.

At its upper end, the plug [2 is slotted as at 20 and this slot also extends through the upper surface of the cap 6.

I It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

With the parts shown in Figures land 4, the spout is sealed and is an integral member. The plug 12 extends from end to end of the spout and it is preferably made of a material stronger or more resistant to bending and breakage than is the spout itself. Thus when containers carrying the spout and cap of this invention are shipped, the spout is protected against breakage, bending or disloclgment.

When it is desired to open the spout to discharge the contents of the container, the cap 6 is rotated. If the fingers of the user are not strong enough to accomplish this, a relatively thin member such as a coin or a screw driver may be inserted in the slot 20 and sufiicient force may be applied, usually by rotation, to break the reduced portion 4 of the spout 2. The plug l2 may then be withdrawn as shown in Figure 3 and the spout is open for the discharge of the contents of the container to which it is fitted.

'The tight fit I 8 formed by the members l9 in contact with the plug 20 acts to prevent accidental displacement or falling out of the plug. The frictional fit provided at that point therefore, holds the plug against accidental displacement.

After use, the plug is inserted into the spout and when it has been inserted sufiiciently to engage the members l9, it is thereafter frequently held against accidental displacement. It can only be removed by the exertion of some force when a user holding the cap 5, positively pulls the plug l2 out.

I claim:

1. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member secured to said cap. said spout member being provided with a bore running from end to end thereof and being provided with a top member, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided with a continuous, inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug throughout with tight sliding fit.

2. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a bore running 'from end to end thereof and being provided with a top member, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for break age and a. plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

3. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a, bore running from end to end thereof and bein provided with a top member, the spout having a I portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a major part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosel in it, said passage being provided with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit.

4. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a. bore running from end to end thereof and being provided with a top member, the spout having a. portion of reduced thickness suitable having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a major partof said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit.

25. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member secured to said cap, Said spout member being provided with a bore ru ning from end to end thereof and being provided with a top member, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a major part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

6. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member, and a spout member formed of relatively weak material secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a bore running from end to end'thereof and being provided with a top member, the spouthaving a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, a part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided with an inwardly extend ingv enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

'7. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member formed of relatively weak material secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a bore running from end to end thereof and being provided with an enlarged top member roughened .on its exterior, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, said plug member formed with an enlarged head posi tioned within the enlarged top of said spout, a major part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said plug being formed of a material stronger than. the material of said spout.

8. In combination,.in a container cover, .a cap member and a spout member formed of relatively weak material secured to said cap, said spout member being provided with a bore running. from end to end thereof and being provided with an enlarged top member roughened on its exterior, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, said plug member formed with an enlarged head positioned within the enlarged top of said spout, a major part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said top member and said plug at its upper end being slotted, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

' 9. In combination, in a container cover, a threaded cap member, a perforation formed therein, and a spout member formed of relatively Weak material, secured to said cap, positioned within said perforation and overlapping the edges of said perforation, said spout member being provided with a bore runningfrom end to end thereof and being provided with a'n'enlarged top member roughened on its exterior, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, said plug member formed with an enlarged head positioned within the enlarged top of said spout, a part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

10. In combination, in a container cover, a threaded cap member, a perforation formed therein, and a spout member formed of relatively weak material secured to said cap, positioned within said performation and overlapping the edges of said perforation, said spout member being provided with a bore running from end to end thereof and being provided with an enlarged top member roughened on its exterior, the spout having a portion of reduced thickness suitable for breakage and a plug member extending throughout the length of said passage, said plug member formed with an enlarged head positioned within the enlarged top of said spout, a major part of said passage being of such diameter that the plug fits relatively loosely in it, said passage being provided adjacent its lower end with an inwardly extending enlargement which embraces said plug with a tight sliding fit, said top member and said plug at its upper end being slotted, said plug being formed of a material stronger than the material of said spout.

11. In combination, in a container cover, a cap member and a spout member fixed thereto, said spout member having a bore therethrough, said spout member being formed of relatively weak material, and a reinforcing plug member formed of material stronger than said spout and extending throughout its length, a portion of said spout being of reduced thickness for ready breaking, said bore being shaped to fit said reinforcing member loosely throughout the major portion of its length and being provided with an inwardly directed member adapted to grip said reinforcing member with a tight sliding fit.

ARTHUR J. COLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,747 Buckley Dec. 9, 1913 1,327,190 Bigoney Jan. 6, 1920 

